would often undertake tours to survey the markets. He (as) used to
walk in the markets alone, with no escort, no servant and no companion
and advice and guide the traders there. He (as) had a very soft corner
in his heart for old, weak, infirm, disabled, orphans, poor and
children were alwayshis favourites.
It was the hottest day of the season, Commander of the Faithful, Moula
Ali (as) had finished his noon-prayers in the mosque and was passing
through the bazaar; he noticed that a little girl was weeping. Moula
Ali (as) asked her the reason for her tears at which sheexplained: "My
master had given me a dirham to purchase some dates. Ipurchased them
from thistrader here, but when I returned home, my master did not
approve of them. Now I wish to return them but the trader refuses to
take them back."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) accompanied the little girl to the trader
and said to him, "This little girl is a slave girl and has no
authority of her own. Take back the dates and return the money to
her."
The trader was a new comer to Kufa and did not recognize Maula Ali
(as) and was rude to him,some passerby intervened and told him who
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was.
The trader's face went pale as he stood flabbergasted. Trader
immediately took the dates from the little girl and handed back the
money to her. Then, turning to Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as), he
implored, "O' Ameer al-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful)! Be
pleased withme and forgive me."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) replied, "I shall only be pleased with you
when you change your behaviour for the better and pay close attention
to morals and courtesy."
The owner of the slave girl had also heard the news of this incident
andran to meet Moula Ali (as)to apologize for the trouble caused by
the slave girl. Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) told him:
You have no mercy for a person who is under your power and cannot
forgive her mistake, haveyou a right to expect Mercy and Forgiveness
from the Lord? You people have acquired nothing from Islam but its
name.
Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as) and taking care of Helpless in Islam
One day Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as)saw an old woman
carrying a heavy load of firewood which she could ill afford to lift,
she was tottering under the weight. Maula-e-Kainat, Imam Ali (as)
relieved herof her weight carried it to her hamlet and on her request
lighted her oven for her and gave her some money also. Old woman did
not know who Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was and was thanking him for
his kindness when a neighbour entered the hamlet, recognized ImamAli
ibn Abu Talib (as) and told her, who he was, only then she realized
that who had served her like an obedient servant was the Caliph and
the king of a fast growing kingdom.
Only after Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib's (as) death the world came to know
thathe had provided a shelterfor a leper in an advanced stage of the
disease. The shelter was outside the town, he used to go there daily,
dress his wounds, feed him with his own hands (because the leper had
lost his hands), wash him,put his bed in order and carry him out of
the shelter for little time, so that he may get fresh air.
Accidentally relatives andfriends of Moula Ali (as) came across this
shelter and found a leper in it, learned his history and told him Imam
Ali ibn AbuTalib (as) was martyred and they had just then buried him.
The news so affected the poor cripple that he died on the spot.
Ameer al-Momineen as Stranger: Taking care of orphans and widows in Islam
Tired and exhausted withthe water skin on her back, she was gasping
and going towards her house where innocent children, their eyes fixed
at the door, were eagerlywaiting for the arrival of their mother. On
her way,stranger man approached her. He took the water skin from her
and placed it on his back.The door opened and thechildren saw their
mother entering the house with a stranger. Heplaced the water skin on
the ground and said:
"Well, it seems you don't have anyone to fetch water for you; how
comeyou are so forlorn?"
She replied: "My husbandwas a soldier; Ali sent himto the frontier
where he was killed. Now I am alone with these small children."
Stranger said no more. Bowing down his head he went away. But the
thought of the helpless widow and orphans remained in his mind. He
could hardly sleep in the night. Early in the morning he picked up a
basket; put some meat, flour and dates in it; went straight to her
house and knocked at the door.
"Who are you?"
Stranger replied: "I am the man who brought your water yesterday. Now
I have brought some food for the children."
"May Allah bless you and judge between us and Ali."
She opened the door. Entering the house stranger said: "I wish to do
some good acts. Eitherlet me knead the flour and bake the bread or
allow me to look after the children."
"Very well, but I can do the job of kneading and cooking better than
you. You take care of the children till I finish cooking."
She went to knead the flour. Immediately he grilled some meat, which
he had brought and fed the children saying to each child while putting
morsel in his mouth: "My son, forgive Ali if he has failed in his duty
towardsyou."
The flour got ready; she called: "Gentleman! Put fire in the oven."
Stranger went and put fire in the oven. When flames rose up, he
brought his face near thefire and said, "Taste the heat of fire. It is
the punishment for those who fail in their duty towards orphans and
widows."
By chance, a woman from the neighboring house came in. Recognizing the
stranger,she cried: "Woe, don't you recognize the man who is helping
you? He isAmir al-Muminin (commander of the faithful), Imam Ali ibn
Abu Talib (as)."
The widow came forward and shamefacedly cried:"Curse and shame to me.
Ibeg your pardon."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) replied, "No, I beg your pardon for I
failed in my duty towards you."
Maula-e-Kainat, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and theAstrologer
There are some who are heedless with respect to reflection, reasoning
andTawakkul (Absolute Trust), and instead, turn to soothsayers and
astrologers, who have cleverly started their business in order to
swindle the people of their money.
Of course, the issue of Aulia Allah (Friends of Allah) and those, who
have strived towards spiritual purification, differ vastly from the
others, for their words are light (nur) and if, at times, they were to
say something to someone, itwould surely occur and hence such
personalities should not be compared to the others.
As an example, we shall present an incident that transpired during the
time of Maula Ali (as). Ameer al-Momineen, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)
and his army had started out for the battle of Nahrawan against the
Kharjites (Kharjite means one who rebels against religion), and having
reached the city of Madain, they pitched their tents. The next
morning, as they were about to commence theirjourney, an astrologer
approached them and said: "My astrological calculations reveal that it
is not in your interest to advance in this hour. Commence your journey
after three hours and youshall be victorious."
Hearing this, Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)
said:"Whoever upholds your words has rejected the Noble Qur'an of
Allah (SWT)."
Surely Allah is He with Whom is the knowledge of the hour, and He
sendsdown the rain and He knows what is in the wombs; and no one knows
what he shall earnon the morrow; and no one knows in what land he
shall die; surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. NobleQur'an (31:34)
Moula Ali (as) then asked:"Do you possess knowledge as to which family
has taken over thereins of leadership in China?"
The astrologer replied: "I have no knowledge."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) questioned: "What is that star, which when
rises, stirs up lust within the camels?"
The astrologer confessed:"I have no idea."
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) asked: "The rise of which star stirs up
passion within the cats?"
The astrologer said: "I do not know!"
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) asked: "Inform me of the thing that is
concealed beneath the hoofs of my horse."
When the astrologer had once again pleaded ignorance, Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib (as) said to him:"Within the earth, below the feet of my horse,
lies a jar filled with gold coins and beneath which a serpent lies
asleep."
When the place was dug up, the people witnessed that the scenario was
exactly as it had been described by Imam Ali ibnAbu Talib (as).
Observing this, the astrologer was totally bewildered; Imam Ali ibn
Abu Talib (as) took possession of his books, ordered them to be
destroyed and then said to him: "The next time you try to attract the
people towards yourself by means of astrology; I shall put you behind
bars."
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